Local philanthropists – including USF students – to be honored Nov. 14, National Philanthropy Day

USF’s Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement is among the honorees

TAMPA, Fla. (Nov. 8, 2012) – Acts of generosity are being honored by the community including those of the University of South Florida’s legion of students who turn out for their ever-growing Stampede of Service and a variety of other charitable activities.

They and philanthropists from the Tampa Bay area will be recognized for their dedication to community service and giving on National Philanthropy Day, Nov. 14, hosted by the Florida Suncoast Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and presented by the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay.

Dedicated to positive social change, CLCE engages university students in numerous activities throughout the Tampa Bay area.

“What they do means so much to so many,” said CLCE Director Jennifer Espinola. “Our generous students have volunteered with senior citizens, mentored young people, spoken out on social justice issues and helped care for the environment. Most importantly their passion and dedication have ignited a culture of giving throughout the entire student body.”

Last year alone, through various USF-sponsored programs, some 18,230 students provided more than 153,169 hours of service throughout local, state and international communities, according to Espinola.

The cornerstone of CLCE activities is the Stampede of Service. What started as a single day of service in 2006 has grown into a way of life for many USF students and a true university tradition.

“Today the program is part of the pulse of USF and has blossomed to more than 3,000 students serving more than 60 different non-profit organizations in the Tampa Bay area,” Espinola said. “Our popular Bulls Service Breaks program has sent students all over the country and internationally where they immersed themselves in issues related to public health, animal rights, immigration, LGBT issues, disabilities, gang violence, and HIV/Aids awareness, to name a few.”

Emceed by Gayle Sierens of WFLA-TV News Channel 8, the event will honor community leaders in seven categories, including Philanthropists of the Year Jeff and Penny Vinik, nominated by the American Cancer Society and Metropolitan Ministries.

Registration for the event is from 11:30 am –noon and the program runs from noon to1:30 p.m. at the A La Carte Pavilion, 4050 Dana Shores Drive, Tampa, FL 33634. Individual tickets are $50. To register online, visit www.afpsuncoast.org by October 30, 2012. For more information, visit www.afpsuncoast.org.

Other winners include: JP Morgan Chase, Philanthropic Corporation of the Year (nominated by The Florida Aquarium); Georgette’s Boutique, Philanthropic Small Business of the Year (nominated by St. Joseph’s Hospitals Foundation, HARC, The Children’s Home, Inc. and UPARC Foundation); Elise B. Minkoff, Gayle Sierens Volunteer of the Year in Philanthropy (nominated by Museum of Fine Arts); Julie Weintraub, Spirit of Philanthropy (nominated by Wheelchairs 4 Kids); and Academy of the Holy Name’s Volleyball and Swim Teams, Youth in Philanthropy (nominated by Academy of the Holy Names and H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center).

“National Philanthropy Day recognizes and salutes the great contribution that philanthropy, and those people active in the philanthropic community in the Tampa Bay area, have made to our lives, our communities, our nation and our world,” said Marion Yongue, President of the Florida Suncoast Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

The 2012 National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon is presented by The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay. Judy Anderson and Bryn Warner served as the 2012 National Philanthropy Day Committee Co-Chairs.

About the Association of Fundraising Professionals

The Association of Fundraising Professionals represents more than 30,000 members in 206 chapters throughout the world, working to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education and certification programs.

The Florida Suncoast Chapter serves more than 250 members in the greater Tampa Bay area, including Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. We provide a wide variety of training and networking opportunities for our members. We are an affiliate of AFP International, working to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education and certification programs. AFP fosters development and growth of fundraising professionals and promotes high ethical standards in the fundraising profession.

The University of South Florida is a high-impact, global research university dedicated to student success. USF is classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in the top tier of research universities, a distinction attained by only 2.2 percent of all universities. It ranks 50th in the nation for federal expenditures in research and total expenditures in research among all U.S. universities, public or private, according to the National Science Foundation. The USF System has an annual budget of $1.5 billion, an annual economic impact of $3.7 billion, and serves 47,000 students in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and Lakeland.